Gingers are crown jewels of plant world
Names like ‘Queen Lily’ and ‘Emperor’ belong to an incredible group, or genera, of gingers called “Curcuma.”
To some people, they are among the most beautiful plants you can grow in the landscape. As the names suggest, they are indeed fit for royalty.
In addition to these, there are a few more that might best be described as the “crown jewels.” ‘Jewel of Thailand,’ ‘Jewel of Burma’ and the new one, ‘Garnet,’ are showing up in the marketplace with exotic flair that takes your breath away. While ‘Garnet’ may pay tribute to a semiprecious stone, it can be compared to a fine ruby.
These gorgeous plants are also among the easiest plants to grow, as many are cold hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness zones 7 and 8. What about zones 5 or 6? Incredibly, these Curcuma gingers want to go dormant and go into what might be considered plant hibernation during the winter. All you have to do is place them in a frostfree location.
When introducing gardeners to gingers, professionals are usually inclined to direct them to the hidden ginger, Curcuma petiolata. The foliage and flower are usually enough to sink the proverbial hook and thus I have a new convert.
It has lush, Canna-like foliage and a bloom that would make you swear it originated in Tahiti. Also called ‘ Queen Lily,’ the bloom is a cluster of colorful, pinkish-purple, waxy bracts with yellow flowers. There is also a wonderful variegated form called ‘Emperor.’ These two curcumas are cold hardy to Zone 7.
It’s the ‘Jewel of Thailand’ that is even more riveting. It produces its bloom higher than the foliage, making it a great cut flower. The flower is larger and, though the bracts have similar colors, the flower appears even more vibrant.
‘Jewel of Thailand’ is cold hardy to Zone 8, but in the world of botanical nomenclature, it has some issues. Taxonomists want to give it a new species name, but the industry isn’t falling in line. You will still be buying it under the name Curcuma cordata.
The ‘Jewel of Burma’ is another absolutely stunning plant. Its color is from the warm or hot side of the color wheel and it produces a tall bloom that is a rich and showy orange. You would not want to grow these two jewels next to each other, but you will probably want both.
Like the others, the foliage is similar to a canna lily, except with some crinkling or pleating. The ‘Jewel of Burma’ will reach 2 to 3 feet tall. It can be grown it in Zone 8, but others say it can survive Zone 7.
The ginger that has gar- deners talking is ‘Garnet,’ a hybrid that is somewhat shorter, but mesmerizing, with a bloom comprised of ruby or garnet red bracts and big, showy yellow flowers. These and the other Curcuma blooms last a long time in the garden and will capture your visitors’ attention for weeks.
Gingers thrive planted in fertile, organic, rich soil that is well drained in the winter. (They will be dormant in the winter, so excess water will prove fatal.)
The best location receives morning sun and afternoon shade that is dappled, shifting or filtered. Moisture and fertilizer will keep them growing vigorously.
If you buy containergrown plants, set them in the ground at the same depth they are growing in the pot.